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Argo44 Offline OP
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Offer this short version for auction houses with limited space for a gun description:

============================ Short ========================

Joseph Charles Reilly, b1786, Ireland, moved to London to study law c1808. In 1814 he opened a jewelry shop at 12 Middle Row, Holborn Bars, next to the Inns of the Court where his clientele included barristers and country gentlemen. He began making guns in the 1820’s and by 1833 identified himself exclusively as “gun maker.” From the beginning he employed a consistent business model; Make a quality product, sell it for a moderate price; deliver it rapidly; and with this model he undercut better known gun makers.

In 1835 he moved to 316 High Holborn where in 1840 his 23 year old son Edward Michael joined him as a partner in the company. In March 1847 they moved to 502 New Oxford Street (renumbered “16” in 1881) where they remained for 50 years. The gun ribs were for the most part labeled “Reilly.” The company advertised as “Reilly, Gun Maker.”

In September 1857 JC Reilly retired in favor of EM. In January 1859 a branch was opened at 315 Oxford Street (renumbered 277 in 1881) and that autumn the company name was changed to E.M. Reilly & Co., a name which lasted on gun ribs and on trade labels and advertisements until 1919 and beyond. A branch was opened in Paris at 2 rue Scribe in 1868 after his triumphal exhibition at the 1867 Paris World’s Fair.

By 1880 Reilly was making twice as many bespoke hand-made guns as Purdey and Holland & Holland combined and his guns dominated UK pigeon shooting contests for 20 years. In August 1885 rue Scribe was closed and in 1890 EM Reilly died. In 1898 16 New Oxford street was closed.

In 1903 the company moved from 277 to 295 Oxford street where they remained until bankruptcy in June 1912. A small gun shop E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Maker, located at 13 High Street, Marylebone run by EM Reilly’s son, continued in business until 1918. In 1922 a sporting goods dealer Charles Riggs bought the name “E.M Reilly & Co.” and used it for many years on his guns.

The Reilly’s sold all types of guns in various qualities using all types of actions. Reilly’s serial numbered about 33,000 guns from circa 1825 to 1912, all built by them. The guns that they made had an artistic elegance and balance, which is unmistakable. They were one of the first to use highly figured French walnut for their stocks and their engraving, for the most part floral scroll work, was consistently classy. Reilly’s best guns were as good as those produced anywhere in England at the time.

Per a well-researched chart dating Reilly SN’s, SN XXXXX was likely numbered circa XXXX.

============================ Shorter ========================

The Reilly’s, Joseph Charles (JC) Reilly (1786-1864), his son Edward Michael (EM) (1817-1890) and his EM’s sons Bert and Charles, made guns in London from the early 1820’s to 1918 working out of several address including in order:
— 1814-1835 - 12 Middle Row, Holborn Bars;
— 1835-1847 - 316 High Holborn;
— 1847-1898 - 502 (“16” after 1881) New Oxford Street;
— 1859-1903 - 315 (“277” after 1881) Oxford Street;
— 1868-1885 - a branch at 2 rue Scribe, Paris
— 1903-1912 - 295 Oxford Street
— 1912-1918 - 13 High Street, Marylebone
In 1922 the Reilly name was bought by sporting goods dealer Charles Riggs who used it for many years on his guns.

Reilly sold all types of guns in various qualities using all types of actions. Reilly serial numbered about 33,000 guns from circa 1825 to 1912, all built by them. The guns that they made had an artistic elegance and balance, which is unmistakable. They were one of the first to use highly figured French walnut for their stocks and their engraving, for the most part floral scroll work, was consistently classy. Reilly’s best guns were as good as those produced anywhere in England at the time.

Per a well-researched chart dating Reilly SN’s, SN XXXXX was likely numbered circa XXXX.

============================ Shorter ========================

Reilly (JC Reilly-1786-1864, his son EM-1817-1890 and after EM’s death the grandsons) made guns in London from the early 1820’s to 1918. For much of that time they were located on Oxford Street or its vicinity with a branch in Paris for 17 years 1868-85. Reilly’s sold all types of guns in various qualities using all types of actions. Reilly serial numbered about 33,000 guns from circa 1825 to 1912, all built by them. The guns they made had an artistic elegance and balance, which is unmistakable. They were one of the first to use highly figured French walnut for their stocks and their engraving, for the most part floral scroll work, was consistently classy. Reilly’s best guns were as good as those produced anywhere in England at the time.

Per a well-researched chart dating Reilly SN’s, SN XXXXX was likely numbered circa XXXX.

============================ Shortest ========================

Reilly (JC Reilly-1786-1864, his son EM-1817-1890 and after EM’s death the grandsons) made excellent quality guns in London from the early 1820’s to 1918. SN XXXXX was likely numbered circa XXXX

Last edited by Argo44; 12/15/19 09:29 PM.

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======================================================================================
1882-1886: 29 Rue du Faubourg, St. Honore revisited


In the above new history I have this sentence on the alleged Reilly shop at 29 rue du Faubourg, St. Honore, Paris: "Note: Allegedly at some point in the 1880’s Reilly opened a branch establishment at 29 Rue du Faubourg, St Honore. This has not been confirmed; no guns with this address on the rib have been found; the only advertisement with this address appeared in Jan 1886 touting a win by an Italian at a Monte Carlo pigeon shoot)."

I've added SN 22432 to the list, a SxS .577 (2 3/4" chambers) BPE rifle with rotary underlever. It has "E.M. REILLY & CO., 502 NEW OXFORD ST., LONDON" on the rib. It would have been serial numbered in circa late 1879 - early 1880.
http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=A1214++++914+&refno=+++76477



Here is a blow-up of the label:





The label has the 1867 Paris medals. It has the address "16, New Oxford Street" and two branch addresses, "277 Oxford Street" and "29 rue du Faubourg, St. Honore, Paris." If the label were original with the case, this could be evidence that Reilly had a shop at this address. But the gun was made in very late 1879, the addresses on Oxford Street didn't change from 502 and 315 to 16 and 277 until November 1881. So either the label is not original with the gun, the gun was made then wasn't sold for a couple of years, or it was serial numbered when ordered but not delivered until after renumbering (normal practice). It does not have scolloped corners and may indeed be a later reproduction or addition.

As mentioned previously on p.18, rue du Faubourg, St. Honore was a prestigious location in the 1870's-80's with a prominent Brit ex-pat community. Reilly would not have kept it secret if he had a store there. Yet it is nowhere mentioned in advertisements. There may be a gun with that address on the rib if Seńor Guidicini's win at Monte Carlo advertisement in the late January 1886 London papers is authentic. Whatever, the 2 rue Scribe address never closed, even if a satellite location was opened for a time in Paris.

There is what looks to be from a very fuzzy photo, a very similar label on one of Cal Pappas' Reilly BPE's (Cal has owned 3 Reilly BPE's that I've seen on the web, but he doesn't post serial numbers or names/addresses on ribs in his ads or writing). It has the 1867 medals, is very squarish, has no scolloped corners, and what may be similar "branch establishments" which may include rue du Faubourg (can't make it out but the blurs seem similar with what looks to be Paris below the right branch address); Two BPE's with St. Honore, Paris? Wonder if that's where he sold his rifles (except for sure Seńor Guidicini wasn't shooting pigeons with a 450 BPE)? If anyone knows Cal, I'd much appreciate seeing a good photo of this label and also getting the SN's. Thanks.



Actually the label is posted here: http://www.calpappas.com/2014/12/double-rifle-1.html (almost at the bottom) and the picture was sent to Cal by Elliot Lee.

Addendum: I sent an email to Cal Pappas asking if he retained his records on Reilly double guns and whether he had additional info on Mr. Elliot Lee and his gun from above. He got back to me immediately. Unfortunately he had neither but his helpfulness was much appreciated.


Edit: I've added this paragraph to the Short history: "Note: In the early 1880's Reilly apparently opened a small satellite branch of 2 rue Scribe, Paris at 29 rue du Faubourg, St. Honore, Paris for a short time. A couple of gun case labels show the store would have been in existence after the November 1881 change in Oxford Street addresses but before the July 1885 closure of 2 rue Scribe. An advertisement with this address appeared in Jan 1886 touting a win by an Italian at a Monte Carlo pigeon shoot; whether the address was on the rib of his gun or on the trade/case label is unknown. No newspaper ads for this branch exist (and it was a prestigious location which should have been publicized). No extant guns have thus far been found with this address. The branch was apparently opened at a time when Reilly was building more than 1,000 serial numbered bespoke guns a year. "

Last edited by Argo44; 11/28/18 02:48 PM.

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Argo:

I recently acquired a Box Lock extractor double marked E. M. Reilly & Co., 277 Oxford St., London. Serial number 23536. It is nitro proved for 2 1/2" 1 1/8 oz loads at the London proofhouse. Barrels are 30". They have been reblued, but I cannot see any Damascus steel pattern under the new bluing so I presume they are fluid steel. The action is an A&D patent with use number 3814 so marked on the action flats. The action looks like a Westley Richards profile with simple border and plain finish, and even has their toplever and beefy early cocking dogs. But there is no maker's mark that I can find. Thought you might want to add it to your serial number list. If you want pictures, I can email them to you. The gun is a shooter, not a collector. Russ

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======================================================================================
1881, November: 23536 - New SN marker for Oxford St. Address change date


Thanks Russ...gun has been added. I actually feel pretty good about date of SN's from say 1858 to 1904. Before 1858 there are so few that it's difficult to be sure and after the move to 295 Oxford street, they only made about 250 guns over 8 years. I don't think Reilly's are all that collectable; everybody here seems to shoot their guns and enjoy them.

Of course your SN 23536 together with the 277 Oxford Street address presents a problem for the chart. It is now the first extant SN'd Reilly with either 16 or 277 on the rib after Oxford St. was renumbered in November 1881. My chart as it is now would have your gun dated in middle of 1881. Now I'm going to have to go back and adjust some of the numbers and totals backwards. It'll mean a few fewer guns produced in the years leading up to 1881 and consequently even more guns made from 1882 to 1885. Thanks. This is the kind of info that really helps. Plus with the Anson and Deely patent use number, we'll get another "sanity check" marker which other A&D use numbers can reference.

Working on updating the chart. I do keep photos of every gun pictured on the chart so if you wouldn't mind sending me one by PM, would much appreciate it. Or better, since it is now a "Marker" serial number for dating Reilly's, could you post a photo here?

Gene Williams

Last edited by Argo44; 11/01/18 01:10 PM.

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Argo44, considering the Lindner - Daly APUNs, an APUN of 3814 would put if forward of 1881 I would say. Now, I wonder if each maker had their own APUN series or sequence? Does the subject A&D Body Action just have the lower scears?


Cheers,

Raimey
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Raimey, a question for the cognoscenti and beyond my abilities. Russ might be able to post some photos of said A&D patent use number. I think this is the line you're talking about? I'll need to read it carefully:

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=484334&page=1

Actually...on the first page I sort of mentioned all the various patents that might be found in a Reilly during the 1870's, 80's in the hope that people would start looking inside their guns - it sure will help with dating.

Last edited by Argo44; 10/31/18 09:08 AM.

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All right, I just know we've expended quite a bit of time on the APUNs with regard to the Lindner - Daly A&D Body Actions.


Cheers,

Raimey
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Photos sent. Russ

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SN charts, the one attached to the last New Reilly History and the one with the extant guns, have been updated to reflect the new first extant SN with 277 or 16 on the rib 23536. It required dialing back a few estimates in the 1870's and bumping up Reilly production 1882-85 to an astonishing 1050 serial numbered guns a year, a true factory production. 23536 as the chart now stands would have been serial numbered in mid-November 1881.

Of course these are educated estimates. The whole exercise was really designed to get a Reilly owner to within about 6 months of the date his gun might have been numbered. You can be more confident in the dates from about 1858-1903 than for the other periods because of the number of existing guns.

I'll be adding something about 29 rue du faubourg shortly but perhaps the huge output in the early 1880's might explain a satellite office in Paris, an off-shoot (not replacing) 2 rue Scribe.

Last edited by Argo44; 11/02/18 11:25 AM.

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I have heard that patent use numbers were sold in allotments to makers. Presuming this gun was made by someone else in the trade and retailed by EM Reilly, that could explain the higher use number. Of course, this is mere speculation on my part. Not sure we will ever know for certain who made the barreled action. But it does look like a Westley Richard's "gold name" action except for no third bite. Russ

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